However Chris Albin, defending, said this was not true and that Zeyadi simply knew the woman and, although he was with the woman at the time of the incident, had not taken any of the money.

Mr Albin said Zeyadi had a long list of previous convictions related to a period when he was using drugs, but now he was clean.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment suspended for one year, given a supervision order for 12 months with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement. He was also ordered to keep a curfew between 10pm and 6am for three months.

Chair of the bench Sue Birtwhistle said: “You have just escaped prison by the skin of your teeth.”